William Alexander Anderson
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Anderson (May 11, 1842 - June 21, 1930) was a Virginia lawyer and politician, who served in the Virginia General Assembly
and was elected twice as Attorney General of Virginia
.
, the son of Francis T. Anderson
, who served on the Virginia Supreme Court and as rector of Washington & Lee University. The younger Anderson was a student at Washington College, as it was then called, when Virginia seceded in 1861, which caused him to enlist in the Confederate Army
.
Anderson joined the "Liberty Hall Volunteers," a group of Washington College students and alumni, who "entered the war in early June 1861 as part of the Fourth Virginia Infantry Regiment under the command of Stonewall Jackson
." A bullet shattered Anderson's kneecap at the Battle of First Manassas
. The pants he was wearing, with the hole in the knee, are on display in the museum at Washington & Lee University. After the War, Anderson went to the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1866.
from 1869 to 1873, and in the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1883 to 1885 and from 1887 to 1889. "In 1870, Anderson was credited with introducing the bill establishing the public school system of Virginia as put forth by Dr. William Henry Ruffner." In 1899, he was elected president of The Virginia Bar Association
.
Anderson served as a member, temporary president, and revision committee Chairman of the Virginia Constitutional Convention
of 1901. He was elected Attorney General of Virginia
in 1901, and re-elected in 1905. Anderson and others represented Virginia in its suit against West Virginia in the United States Supreme Court, to recover a share of Virginia's public debt as of 1861. When the case ended in 1920, the special commissioner recommended that Anderson be awarded $75,000.
Anderson served on the Board of Trustees of Washington & Lee from 1885 to 1930, and was rector from 1913 to 1924.
Anderson was buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia
.
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
and was elected twice as Attorney General of Virginia
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
.
Student and soldier
Anderson was born in Botetourt County, VirginiaBotetourt County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, the son of Francis T. Anderson
Francis T. Anderson
Francis T. Anderson was born in Botetourt County, Virginia. He received his education at first from his mother and then at the school of Curtis Alderson at Ben Salem in Rockbridge County, Virginia...
, who served on the Virginia Supreme Court and as rector of Washington & Lee University. The younger Anderson was a student at Washington College, as it was then called, when Virginia seceded in 1861, which caused him to enlist in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
.
Anderson joined the "Liberty Hall Volunteers," a group of Washington College students and alumni, who "entered the war in early June 1861 as part of the Fourth Virginia Infantry Regiment under the command of Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
." A bullet shattered Anderson's kneecap at the Battle of First Manassas
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
. The pants he was wearing, with the hole in the knee, are on display in the museum at Washington & Lee University. After the War, Anderson went to the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1866.
Lawyer and politician
A member of the state executive committee of the Democratic Party, Anderson served in the Senate of VirginiaSenate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
from 1869 to 1873, and in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1883 to 1885 and from 1887 to 1889. "In 1870, Anderson was credited with introducing the bill establishing the public school system of Virginia as put forth by Dr. William Henry Ruffner." In 1899, he was elected president of The Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
.
Anderson served as a member, temporary president, and revision committee Chairman of the Virginia Constitutional Convention
Constitution of Virginia
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the document that defines and limits the powers of the state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. Like all other state constitutions, it is supreme over Virginia's laws and acts of government,...
of 1901. He was elected Attorney General of Virginia
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
in 1901, and re-elected in 1905. Anderson and others represented Virginia in its suit against West Virginia in the United States Supreme Court, to recover a share of Virginia's public debt as of 1861. When the case ended in 1920, the special commissioner recommended that Anderson be awarded $75,000.
Anderson served on the Board of Trustees of Washington & Lee from 1885 to 1930, and was rector from 1913 to 1924.
Anderson was buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
.